Chapter 72: Showing Off

Xiao Mu wanted to introduce Xiao Huaishu to Song Yuan, but since her son had gone to the capital for studies, she could only set that idea aside for now.

They would talk about it when he returned.

“Since Xiao Xu isn’t home, why don’t you come back and stay?”

“I’m fine living alone.” The family compound is very safe, and living alone isn’t a problem.

Xiao Mu gave her a reproachful look. “No wonder your father says young people don’t like to live with their elders. Look at you, you’d rather live alone in an apartment than come home.”

Xiao Qingru quickly soothed her, “It’s not that I don’t want to come home. It’s just that if I do, you’ll have to take care of me again. That’s tiring!”

“Weren’t you like that before?”

“If you don’t mind me being a bother, then I’ll move back in.”

Xiao Mu laughed and scolded, “Is it you who finds me and your father annoying? How did the blame turn around on me?”

“How could that be? I’ll move back today!”

Xiao Mu stopped teasing her daughter. “Your things are still in your room. I’ve washed and dried your bedding, it’s all put away. You can just take it out and use it.”

“I’ll go back and get my toiletries later, I don’t want to bother with other stuff.”

Xiao Qingru nodded repeatedly.

Being someone who had been through it all, Xiao Mu noticed her daughter looked exhausted and understood the situation.

“You go upstairs and take a nap first. I’ll go with you to the apartment later to get your things after dinner.”

Xiao Qingru didn’t refuse and handed her mother the tickets she just received.

“You’re treating us like outsiders?”

“I won’t be going out spending money, I’ll need to eat and drink at home for a while. I can’t keep relying on you and Dad. I’m almost twenty; it would be embarrassing if anyone found out.”

Xiao Mu tapped her daughter’s nose. “Your father and I are happy to support you. Who would dare laugh?”

“You take care of me, I want to take care of you too.”

She put the tickets in her mother’s hands. “Mom, I’m going upstairs to rest.”

“Go on, I’ll call you for dinner.”

Xiao Mu accepted the tickets, thinking of making her daughter some good food to lift her spirits and distract her from worrying about her husband.

Since it was still early, she could buy a fish coincidentally, one of the tickets Xiao Qingru gave her was for fish.

Having not slept all night, Xiao Qingru fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

After the fatigue, her sleep quality was exceptional she didn’t even dream and woke up only when the sun was beginning to set.

After getting dressed and washing her face, she went downstairs.

Following the sounds of conversation, she headed to the kitchen and was surprised to see Jiang Mu there.

She had thought that after everything that happened, even if the two families hadn’t completely severed ties, they wouldn’t be interacting much anymore.

She subtly inquired with her eyes about what was going on.

Xiao Mu rolled her eyes out of Jiang Mu’s sight. “Last year, you brought back two bottles of that green stuff from the city the one that smells great and repels mosquitoes. You even gave a bottle to Jiang Auntie. She wanted to ask where you bought it, she couldn’t find it at the supply store.”

“The supply store has it, just ask the salesperson.”

Jiang Mu felt somewhat awkward. She knew perfectly well she could ask and get it, but she was trying to take the opportunity to ease the relationship with the Xiao family.

Why was this child so dense?

She used to be quite adept at handling such matters.

Smiling, she said, “I was confused, I should have asked more questions back then.”

Xiao Qingru had no intention of engaging in small talk with Jiang Mu, mainly because she had nothing to say.

“Mom, I’ll head back there for a bit.”

“Alright, hurry back. I’ve already prepared the fish, it’ll just need to be boiled.”

Xiao Qingru nodded and left the house.

Her attitude made Jiang Mu aware that she wasn’t welcome, but wanting to restore ties with the Xiao family, she had to put on a brave face and stay to talk with Xiao Mu.

“I heard Xiao Xu has gone to the capital?”

Xiao Mu thought to herself that Xiao Xu was the term they used for their family, and Jiang Mu was so presumptuous.

Her expression remained the same as usual, even smiling at the corners of her mouth. “Xiao Xu is doing well, it’s an honor for him to be sent for further studies. The only downside is the couple being apart for so long. It’s really tough for them.”

“It seems the couple has a strong bond.”

“Of course! Xiao Xu is a gem, every time he comes home, he helps me cook. Even my daughter’s mother in law gets the same treatment. As for Qingru, Xiao Xu doesn’t let her do any chores he spoils her to no end.”

Jiang Mu didn’t understand why she was sitting there listening to Xiao Mu brag.

Thinking of her own daughter in law, who had a child to care for and now made her son reluctant to come home.

He either spent all day on the training field or going on missions. He wasn’t made of iron how could his body withstand it?

Comparing Xiao Qingru and Xu Mu’s good life made Jiang Mu feel miserable.

If Qingru had married her son, it would have been her family living the good life now.

“Ah, Qingru and A Chuan were a great match back then. What a pity that fate played a trick on them. Look at our son, he’s been worn down by Du Wanqiu.”

Jiang Mu looked pitiful. “It’s all because of that troublemaker Du Wanqiu that this pair of childhood sweethearts ended up apart.”

Xiao Mu rolled her eyes in her heart. If they hadn’t separated, how could Qingru and Xiao Xu have ended up together?

“Don’t blame Du Wanqiu too much your son seems quite willing to take care of her.”

“A Chuan pities her and got fooled by her.”

“We’re older now and can’t understand the minds of the young. I think you may have misunderstood A Chuan. If he didn’t like Du Wanqiu, she wouldn’t be able to interfere at all. His eyes are fine, and his mind is clear. There’s no chance he could be fooled.”

Jiang Mu couldn’t continue; if she kept belittling Du Wanqiu, wouldn’t it imply that their son had poor judgment?

With an awkward smile, she said, “You’re right, we don’t understand the thoughts of young people.”

“The life of the couple is their own don’t worry too much. Let them figure things out themselves, or else if you interfere too much, you’ll just get blamed later.”

Jiang Mu thought, with such a troublesome daughter in law, how could she not worry?

Looking at Xiao Mu, she really was fortunate her husband was successful, her child was obedient, and even her son in law was better than others.

Why did all the good fortune seem to belong to the Xiao family?

Not getting comfort from Xiao Mu and instead being subjected to her boasting, Jiang Mu decided not to linger and left after a while.

Thinking of her son’s haggard appearance, she grew angrier and changed direction.

She had to go see how Du Wanqiu was taking care of her son!